While this is an incredibly intricate fighting system and a great feeling game, the little touches to make it a UFC experience just aren't there. It tries, with logos and commentary (and even a Pride mode, which follows the rules of the now-defunct Pride fighting promotion), but it always feels like it's keeping you at arm's length. This is exacerbated by a career mode in which your created fighter's advancement is purposely hamstrung, gaining stats more slowly than a comparable roster fighter. (There is a roster career mode, which is a neat addition to be sure). It feels like it's trying to preserve the legend of these other fighters over your enjoyment of the game, preventing you from becoming their equal. To that end, career mode also has crazy difficulty spikes, as you go from no-name fighters you can pound into the dirt with your eyes closed to UFC professionals, tearing you down by virtue of their superior stats alone.

Beyond that, the commentary is often repetitive—though effective at telling you what you're doing well—and extremely general, even in matches between big-name fighters. The visuals still look pretty plastic-like, especially on the Pride-era renditions of fighters. The game does have an expansive roster, but its Pride-specific selection is fairly limited.

UFC Undisputed 3 is a very good MMA game. The fighting engine has been polished to a sheen, and those who want to play the title at a competitive level will find that it is designed in such a way that they can develop their own fighting style fairly easily. Those who are just fans of the UFC, though, and want a game that captures that experience, will find that the game is lacking in the accoutrements that would make it a great hobbyist work as well as an intricate and involved fighting game.

GraphicsDetailed fighter models still look somewhat like plastic, but they animate well and the hits look painful.

4.5

ControlOther than a sometimes soggy transition system and awkward feinting, the controls are superb and intuitive.

3.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice ActingSound effects are great and the fighters' intro music is all there, but the commentary is somewhat lacking.

3.7

Play ValueThis will really depend on how much you enjoy the core action for its own sake, because that is the driving force in this game.

4.0

Overall Rating - GreatNot an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend

0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid

2.5 - 2.9 = Average

3.5 - 3.9 = Good

4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy

2.0 - 2.4 = Poor

3.0 - 3.4 = Fair

4.0 - 4.4 = Great

5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Pride Mode - Compete for the first time within the legendary Pride environment featuring official announcers and renowned Japanese MMA league rules, including brutal soccer-style kicks, head stomps, and ground knees to the head.

Gameplay Accessibility - Get inside the Octagon with a choice between traditional and simplified gameplay control options, enabling players of all skill levels to experience the intensity of UFC while executing simple standing strikes or more complex ground and transition mechanics.

Extraordinary Roster - Go head-to-head with more than 150 prolific UFC fighters, including the addition of Featherweight and Bantamweight divisions.